Peter H. Bloch

Seeking the Ideal Form: Product Design and Consumer Response

The physical form or design of a product is an unquestioned determinant of its marketplace success. A good design attracts consumers to a product, communicates to them, and adds value to the produc...

Consumer Search: An Extended Framework

While consumer search behavior has been studied for many years, its treatment has been limited to purchase contexts. This article defines ongoing search as search occurring outside of the purchase process, and places it within an overall framework for consumer search. In addition, it presents results of an exploratory study of ongoing search indicating that recreational or hedonic motives for ongoing search are more significant than practical, informational motives. This study also shows that product involvement is strongly linked to ongoing search and that ongoing searchers appear to be important elements in the marketplace.

After the New Wears Off: The Temporal Context of Product Involvement

While product involvement has been identified as a significant variable in consumer behavior, the precise nature of such involvement is still not well understood. The study reported here utilizes a longitudinal design to provide evidence for the notion that there are two forms of product involvement. The study also documents the differing temporal patterns of behaviors associated with each form. Behaviors associated with enduring involvement were stable over time, while those behaviors resulting from situational involvement declined once the situation inducing the involvement changed.

Individual Differences in the Centrality of Visual Product Aesthetics: Concept and Measurement

This research conceptualizes and develops a scale to measure individual differences in the centrality of visual product aesthetics (CVPA), defined as the level of significance that visual aesthetics hold for a particular consumer in his/her relationship with products. Three related dimensions of product aesthetics centrality emerged from the research: value, acumen, and response intensity. A series of eight studies provided evidence that the CVPA measure possesses satisfactory reliability and validity. Additionally, this research illuminates important differences between high and low CVPA consumers in product-design-related evaluations and behaviors and provides suggestions for future research employing the scale. Copyright 2003 by the University of Chicago.

Correlates of Price Acceptability

The cognitive tradeoff between price and product quality is used as a basis for hypothesizing interrelationships between two individual difference variables and two price-related responses. Results of a correlational study support the hypothesis of an inverse relationship between price consciousness and product involvement and the hypotheses that price consciousness and product involvement have opposite implications for several price-related constructs. Results also indicate a positive relationship between price acceptability level and the width of the latitude of price acceptance.

Consumer “accomplices” in product counterfeiting: a demand side investigation

Examines the consumer′s role in the proliferation of product counterfeiting. Describes a demand‐side orientation to the counterfeiting problem and discusses results from a field experiment examining consumers′ willingness to select a counterfeit apparel item knowingly. Indicates that a surprisingly large proportion of adult consumers will select a counterfeit garment over the genuine good when there is a price advantage. Investigates product perceptions and decision criteria and implications for marketer action.

Extending the Concept of Shopping: An Investigation of Browsing Activity

In many previous studies of consumer behavior, shopping has been equated with buying. This research examines the concept of browsing—the examination of a retailer’s merchandise without a current intent to buy. Results indicate that for the product classes of clothing and personal computers, browsing is related to perceptions of relevant dimensions of the retail environment. In addition, heavy browsers are more involved with the product, are more knowledgeable, and are more likely to be opinion leaders than are other consumers. Suggestions for future research are also noted.

How Enduring and Situational Involvement Combine to Create Involvement Responses

Abstract Although a two-component model of product involvement is widely accepted, research has not studied how enduring and situational involvement combine to affect consumer responses. This article investigates three combination models. In particular, an additive model is compared with two interaction models, and the three models are tested empirically using field surveys. Results suggest that preexisting levels of enduring involvement neither magnify nor suppress situational involvement effects occurring around the time of purchase, thus supporting the simple additive model.

Right under our noses: Ambient scent and consumer responses

Despite frequent mention, we know relatively little about the effect of ambient environmental factors on consumer behavior. This paper discusses one important aspect of the environment, ambient scent. Based on research from several disciplines, a model describing the effect of ambient scent on consumers is propossed. Ambient scent is portrayed as an environmental cue that is compared with scent preferences to influence affective responses and ultimately approach-avoidance reactions. Moderators of these presumed relationships are also described. Suggestions for empirical research are provided and implications for marketing management are presented.

Remedies for product counterfeiting

Ronald F. Bush is a professor and chairperson of the department of economics and marketing, University of West Florida, Pensacola. Peter H. Bloch is an associate professor in the School of Management, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Scott Dawson is an assistant professor of marketing at Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of James L. Bikoff, formerly ~resident of the International Antiounterfeiting Coalition and presently a partner in the law firm of Baker and Hostetler, Washington, D.C. Product counterfeiting continues to affect many businesses around the world. Unchecked, it could affect the worlds economy as well.